The Journey of a Story

I love the above quote. How many times has a story taken you on a journey? I am often asked how I come up with stories. It’s not as hard as it seems to come up with an idea. The challenge is bringing that idea full circle to create an entertaining journey for the reader.

Today, I thought we could all write something together. I’ve done this before on the inspyromance blog, and it seemed like many of you enjoyed it. This is how it will work. I will start the story, and in the comments you can add to the story. You may post as many times as you would like. If this is your first time to visit inpsyromance.com please note we keep things clean here.

Setting: The corner cafe. Owned by Roxie Smith, age 35, never married, life revolves around the cafe ever since a heartbreak 10 years earlier.

Roxie gasped, as Trevor, her almost fiancé, stepped into Heartbreak Cafe.

Kimberly is multi-published and writes sweet Christian romance.
She married her college sweetheart eons ago and they have two sons. Kimberly writes stories that warm the heart and feed the soul.
Her hobbies include reading, watching chick flicks, playing the piano, long walks with her hubby, and drinking coffee.
Kimberly loves to connect with readers in her facebook readers group titled Kimberly Rose Johnson Readers. Here is the link to request to join. http://bit.ly/2ysf0PU She hopes to see you there!

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Pain, heart breaking, heart wrenching reminder how Trever just left. No word why. No letter, no phone call, no email, no text. Nothing. Her heart took a jump. Her checks blushed. Wow! Ten years did Trever good. But why now? Why today? On the morning of the Harvest Festival? Ten years to the day, when he disappeared. Roxie had looked forward to the fireworks that night, instead she cried oceans. Heartbreak.

As she slowly walked to the table, all kinds of emotions were going through her. Should she act casual, should she act angry, should she act hurt? Too soon she was at the table and auto went into effect. “Hi, I am Roxie, I will be your server today. What can I start you out with?” She continued looking at her pad with her pen poised, shaking inside.

The deep blue eyes she once thought she’d known so well met hers. “For starters, a cup of coffee. Then a second chance might be nice.”

“This is the Heartbreak Cafe, not the Dream On Cafe.” Roxie stilled her foot from tapping on the black-and-white checkerboard floor. If only Sally hadn’t taken her early lunch–granted she had valid reasons involving a meeting with her son’s school principal–she wouldn’t be taking Trevor’s order. “Second chances aren’t on the menu today.”

“I hear you own this restaurant. Interesting name.” He fiddled with the menu and then opened it. No way he saw the selections. She could practically see the wheels turning in his mind. If he thought he could come up with excuses for the way he left her a decade ago, or even begin to justify his actions, he could take the next bus out of town. Horse. Wagon train. Bicycle. Moped. Whatever, as long as he left. It’d taken her a long time to get over him, and she wasn’t going down that trail again.

“That’s right.” Her gaze flitted from the 50s style clock to the old-time soda machine. The fry cooks stood behind the window staring her way. Great. She prayed nothing would burn. Ethel Judd sure was getting an eyeful. The woman would fall off the counter stool if she leaned any farther to try and overhear their exchange.

Trevor closed the menu. “How about you meet me at the Harvest Festival tonight, and I’ll buy you a cup of coffee? And more. Whatever you want. If you’ll allow me, I’ll explain why I left.”

“And haven’t been back,” she said. “That’s a mighty tall order.”

He slid out of the booth and straightened to his full height. Still long and lean as ever. No wonder since he hadn’t ordered any food. “I’ll be at the entrance at seven tonight. I want you to come, Rox.” He settled a Stetson on his head. Oh my. He still wore one of those? Trevor always fancied himself a cowboy. Looked like one, too.

She watched as he tipped his hat and walked out to the parking lot. Then climbed into a fancy red pickup. Shiny and new from the looks of it. Then she spied what he’d left behind on the table.

A letter….could it be an explanation or could it be a declaration of the love they once shared. No, it couldn’t be, as he said he would explain tonight. She pocketed the envelope torn between opening it and trashing it. No time for that now, as she had customers and business to attend to. No time for looking back and what if’s.

As the day wore on Roxie’s mind kept wandering to the letter in her pocket. What could Trevor possibly have written? There was only one way to find out. Her hand crept into her pocket.
“Order up, Roxie.”

She started when Sally slapped something on the counter. “Lookin’ for this?” The envelope.

“I’m not sure.” Roxie moved a palm to her forehead. “Where’d you find it?”

“Swept it up behind the counter. You must have dropped it at some point. I heard Trevor was here but didn’t stay long.” Sally’d known her since she was a kid. She knew the whole story of what happened in the past.

“Yeah.” Roxie smoothed her hands on her apron. “He was. I found the envelope on the table when he left.” Inhaling a quick breath as her pulse pounded, she retrieved it from the counter.

“Here.” With arched brows, Sally handed her the letter opener from the office.

“You come prepared.”

Sally smiled a little. “I figured you might need it. I’ll take care of things out here. Why don’t you go into the office for some privacy?”

“Thanks.” With a nod, Roxie walked through the kitchen. Closing the door of the office, she lowered into the chair. One thing she needed to do first? Pray. Lowering her head, she asked the Lord for the strength to accept whatever was in the envelope. Finished with her prayer, she turned the envelope over and quickly slit it open.

Her eyes widened as she pulled out a four-page, folded document of some kind. A legal document–a property deed. With her full legal name on it. Roxie scanned the page. “Oh, Trevor. What have you done?” Unsure whether to be grateful or upset, she sat back in the chair. Only one thing was clear: she needed to go meet him at the Harvest Festival. If nothing else, she needed to find out how and why–if the document in her hand was legit, and it appeared to be–Trevor was gifting her with land her father, and his father before him, always wanted. But had never been able to buy because it wasn’t for sale. But now, it seemed she might be the new owner.

She glanced at the clock. Almost six o’clock. If she wanted to shower and clean off the grime from a long day at the cafe, she needed to leave now. “Lock up for me, will you, Sally?” she called as she flew through the front.

Hands trembling,she stood in front of the mirror ,wishing she could erase the last ten years from her face.
Pronounced crows feet around her eye showed every year of pain and regret.
Butterflies in her stomach caused her to regret this look.
She stepped away,grabbed a jacket and headed out the door to an unknown.

She sat outside in her car for the last few minutes pondering if she really wanted to step out and meet with Trevor. It could either go really, really good or really, really bad! Her curiosity piqued more than her anger at the past so she stepped out, strapped her purse on her shoulder, took a deep breath, held her head high, and walked towards the entrance to the festival where she spotted Trevor waiting for her. Looking like a little boy who was caught doing something he wasn’t suppose to do and she felt a little sorry for him. Hands in his jeans pockets, shoulders hunched and scuffing the toe of his shoe in the dirt. An apprehensive smile appeared at the corner of his mouth when he noticed her. “Roxie, I’m glad you decided to meet with me. I know I have a lot of explaining to do, and I know you’re wondering about the paper I gave you. Shall we go into the festival and grab that cup of coffee I promised you and whatever else you would like?” he said. “I don’t need anything but the coffee, thank you. My stomach is all in knots so I don’t think I’d have an appetite for anything right now. I am curious why after all this time you’d come back, but you’ve promised to explain. I’ll try to be patient and let you have your say.” replied Roxie.

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